Die for spring-forming machines



. L. F. ELKINS.

' DIE FOR SPRING FORMING MACHINES.

APPL'ICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1919.

1,33 1,630 Pafnted Feb. 24, 1920.

L. F. ELKINS.

DIE FOR SPRING FORMING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I8, I9I9.

1,331,630. Patented Feb. 244920.

2 SHEETSSH EET 2.

I f I I IJIIIIIIIII III 7? Alman- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS FnELKIN S, 0F EONTIAC, MICHIGAN.

' DIE FOR SPRING-FOEMING MACHINES.

Application filed June 18, 1919.

.of this specification.

My invention relates to the dies of spring forming machines, shown in the accompanying drawings and more particularly described in the following specification and claims:

Heretofore it has been customary to construct spring forming and tempering machines with dies which were not adapted to be removed from the machine,it being necessary to make up the forming dies for each job and when repeat orders were received, it became necessary to reassemble the several parts of the die before the work could be again undertaken.

That the several leaves of a spring should exactly conform to the shape of the adjacent leaf in order to secure proper spring action is well understood in this art therefore, in order to obtain this result the greatest care must be exercised in making up the forms for the-leaves of a spring the work requiring the services of a skilled mechanic.

It will be obvious therefore that the time and labor necessary to fit up the dies for duplicate orders of the respective leaves is thus lost and that it is exceedingly difiicult, if not impossible, to reassemble the parts of the die so they will produce the exact duplicate of the shape of a prior output.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide co-acting pairs of dies constructed with adjustable fingers, that any desired form maybe given to the spring leaf, the co-acting pairs'of the die being adapted for installation on any of the standard spring forming machines ;the arrangement being such that the dies may be removed from the machine upon the completion of an order and stored away for future use without disturbing the respec- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

Serial No. 305,151.

tive elements of the die that the leaves of a spring may be exactly duplicated at any time,thereby standardizing the leaves without the loss of time necessary for reassembling the component parts of the die.

A further object of the invention is that the dies may be made up while the machine is in use,thus avoiding tying up the operation of anexpensive and productive machine.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com-' bin'ation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the same.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a plan view of a spring forming machine, showing the coacting members of the die secured thereto, with a spring blank in position to be operated upon.

Fig. 2, is a similar view of. a portion of the die showing the co-acting members of the latter in closed position to form the blank.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1

Fig. L is a cross-sectional view on line l4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a spring forming machine with the dies mounted thereon.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on line 66 of Fig. lshowing the movable member of the die in its initial or open position.

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the movable member of the die in closed position,as when acting upon the spring blank.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings V A, and P, are co-acting die frames conforming to the general shape of the spring to be manufactured. The frame A, is secured by bolts B, to a stationary member C,

the spring forming machine D.

E, indicates a plurality of adjustable blocks located in abutting relation to each other having projecting ribs E, adapted to bear against the spring blank Z. Extending i from the rear-of the blocks ,E, into.v corre spondinggrecessesin' one of rtheside walls A, of the frame, are rectangular lugs E to secure the blocks from rotating upon their own axis. F, are bolts bridgingthe spaced side walls of the frame A, on one end of which are secured the blocks F" and F are nuts for securing the bolts when ad against-which they are arranged in opposing relation.

T, Vare bolts for supportingthe blocks S, in the frame P, fitted with nuts T, for ad: justing the blocks. U, denote. springs sleevedupon the bolts with one endibearingi.

against the nuts T, and the other end against.

the wall oftheframe P, the purpose .of.

which isIto provide for a slight yieldable relation between the spring gripping blocks 13, and S, that the spring, blank may expand andcontract between the same.

V, indicates a suitable toggle lever .mechanism adapted to be actuated by a manually operated lever WV, for forcingthe .movable member R,,with its die P1, toward and away from the die A, for formingthe spring,

It will bevseen that dies adapted to form the several leaves .of a vehiclespring may be made .up to conform with theadjacent leaf of the springand that upon the com-: pletlon of the required number of leaves,

the dies may be removed and another set .of I

dies installed without holding up the-roperation of the machine longer than iS ne'cessary' to makethis change The dies upon removal from the machine maybe stored.

for-future use without disturbing the adjustment of any of its parts;thusexact duplicates of the spring may be made at any-time without the loss of time necessary; for making np a-die for each occasiom Having thus describedmy invention, what I'claim1-is:;-- 1 1 1. In a spring machine, a self contained removable spring forming die comprising a pairof coordinating-frames having spaced side walls, a plurality of bolts bridging the opening betweenthe side walls of the frames, a plurality of blocks secured to the end of the; bolts, means for securing; each block against turning upon its aX1s, means for adjusting'saidblocks, means for securing the blocks ofone frame wheniadiust emr.

means for providing a yiel'dable action10f" the blocks ofthe opposingjframe when grip pmga-sprmg blank, and: means for detachably securing said coordmatingframes ma said ;d ie.. V V

2. In a sprmgmachme, aself contained:

removable spring, .fgirmingdie comprising, a. pairv .of coordinating frames .,hav1ng .spaced. side walls, a plurality of boltslibrldg ngthe.

openingbetweein the. side walls]. of the frames, a plurality of blocks SGCLH'GClVi Q'thG' spring c.machine,,vwhereby the die. frames, may be removed for; future .use ,Wltl'lOllt; danger vvof dlsplacllng ,the. several .Qparts of.

ends of. the;bolts, Ihaving,projecting ribs adapted toibe'ar' against .a spring; tblank, fsa-ldi blocks each having a rectangular lugfitted' to a corresponding recess. inz'the wall of the frame, whereby each block. 1s heldagamst turnlngi upon its aX1s,f nuts mounted upon.

said boltsfor adjusting said lblocks, means.-

for-securing, the blocks-bfone frame when adjusted, means i for vvproviding a ,yieldable. action 10f .the. blocksjof the opposing frame when vgripping. a spring. blank, and. means for detachably securing said 'c coordinating frames in a. spring machine, whereby the die frames may -..be removed for future .use with out. Edanger- 0f displacing thetseveral parts of the die.

In testimony whereof, .I sign thisflspecifi cation! in the presence,oftwoiwitnessesl V LE 'WIS F) 'EIIKINS? Witnesses: i I

S ZE TH-Q MAS Jorrnr 1 CONSImNm-Jr, 

